COSTS FOR A FLEET OF ',Ian VANS.
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Interesting and Instructive Figures of Operating Costs for a Standardized Fleet of 15-cwt. Dodge Brothers Delivery Vans,
MO EXPRESS the view that the motcirvan of Small carrying capacity has definitely ousted the horse from the sphere of light delivery service does not in any way understate the case for the motor vehicle of this type. Of recent years the use of the horsed van, for local as well as extended deliveries, has been noticeably on the wane and, although the transformation may have taken a protracted period to corn_plete (particularly rides this apply in the case of the small tradesman, the light motorvan has assuredly won its -spurs as an efficient and reliable transport medium.
Business houses with wide ramifications have long since recognized the value of the light van, but its penetration into the delivery activities of the small local tradesman has been of a comparatively slaworder. The reason for this disparity can be summed up in the one word " competition." It is obvious that the greater the volume of competition which has to he faced the more intportant the need for expeditious transport arrangements This is an age of speed, and the purchaser of to-day insists 'on the speedy execution of an order, and is not content. to wait unnecessarily for his, or her, demands to be met. It follows, therefore, that,..by ensuring rapid delivery, goodwill is built up and maintained, but it is equally true that if faith be not kept with the buyer in the delivery of goods business will be lost and orders will ultimately find their way on to the despatch files of competitors.
One of the reasons that many a small tradesman has fought. shy of impIoying the light • van is that he has often Lund it extremely difficult to secure informative figures relating to running and upkeep costs. Manufacturers have at all times been willing to assist in this direction, bet,. obviously, it is the experience of individual users, and more expressly those engaged in similar trades, that carries greater weight and offers convincing. evidence of satisfactory and remunerative use, Quite a number of large users of light vans jealously guards facts and figures relating to the cost of operating their machines, for fear, it is assumed, that their rivals might derive some material benefit from their publication. This is a line of reasoning to which it is difficult to give support since it iS reasonable to conclude that most users of motor vehicles endeavour to operate their machines at the lowest possible cost, and only peculiarities of the trade, or the -unusual
• character of the service, can justify higher figures for the operation of one vehicle than for another of a like capacity. It is pleasing, therefore, to be in a position to publish some instructive figures of operating costs for a fleet of light vans in the Eervice of a company whose transport activities
extend to the four corners ol Great Britain, and Messrs. Pullars, the well-known dyers and cleaners, are to be commended for their frankness and initiative.
As will be seen from the tabulation appearing on this page, the company use a standardized fleet of Dodge Brothers 15-cwt. vans. The fleet consists of 22 units, which are distributed between 15 different towns and cities, each of which serves as the headquarters fcr a wide area. The centres are located in various parts of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and, when making an analysis of the relative costs for each van, sight should not bo lost of the varying nature of the country and local traffic conditions, for these factors obvieusly have a marked inflaence on cost per mile and cost per ton-mile figures.
It is surprising, therefore, to note, with one exception, the unusual evenness of the costs of running for each vehicle, the fractional differences being mostly aocounted for by varying mileage, age ofchassis, and nature of work. The average cost per vehicle per mile is shown to be 4 3.20d.-a figure which is excellent testimony to the mechanical efficiency of the vans and to the supervision exercised over their running and maintenance. This figure, it should be mentioned, includes the cast of tyres, petrol, oil, repairs, insurance, and tax, but. is exclusive of charges under the headings of drivers' wages and depreciation. The various statistics refer to 20 vans, for the remaining two vehicles have only been in service a short white, and figures for the operation are not, for the moment, available.
The fleet of vans has been acquired by the company over -the period from October, 1.919, and the figures cover the intervening timeup to November 6th of this year. The results obtained from some of the older machines vie with those for the newer units of the fleet, and particularly is this so in the matter of fuel consumption. Vans of 15-cwt. capacity that will run 15 and 16 miles to the gallon of petrol consumed, after having been in regular use for over four years, can certainly be said to be giving excellent service.
Two columns of figares in the tabulation which will be perused with considerable interest are those relating to cost, of repairs and overhauls or the complete period of use of each van, and the average annual coats under this head deduced therefrom. Considering the total mileage standing to the credit of some of the vehicles, these figures must be deemed eminently satisfactory. Some of the figures in the column dealing with "Average Life of Tyres" will be scen to differ widely, but judgment. on this fact should not be passed withouta knowledge of the various factors likely to influence costa in this direction.
It is, perhaps, unnecessary further to analyse the statistics, for they are clearly set out. in the tabulation, but theyare certainly worthy of close perusal. An accompanying illustration shows the type of Dodge Brothers van of which Messrs. Pullars' fleet is composed. It possesses a neat and attractive appearance, and the users, it will be noted, have not overlooked the advertising value of such machines.